OLD TESTAMENT | HISTORICAL

The Book of 1 & 2 Samuel

THE FINAL JUDGE AND THE FIRST KING

If you love history and finding out about your ancestry, then you are going to love the books of 1 & 2 Samuel. The first two books of a four-part series, these books show us the continuing history of Israel. The wars, the triumphs, the good and the bad are all presented in these books that show us the kingdom of God on earth. Get to know Samuel, the final judge of Israel; Saul, the first king and King David as he fights for his throne. Intrigue, adultery, murder, incest, brothers killing brothers and betrayal – television will look boring to you after you read these books!

Part One

DIVE - THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY & FOREVER | Dr Katie Haldane

As you read 1 & 2 Samuel, you are going to hear about people and stories that you probably have known for a while. We all love the stories of David and Goliath that we heard at Sunday school, the stories of God talking to Samuel, we all laughed in juvenile delight as we were told about the king that was so happy to have the presence of God back in his city that he danced in his underwear.

DEEP DIVE - WHO IS REALLY IN CHARGE? | Dr Kyle Keimer

Who is really in charge? This is something that the Bible poses over and over to those who read it. In Exodus God says he will give certain signs so that ‘they will know that I am God’ (the ‘they’ is both Israel and Egypt depending on the specific verse.

Part Two

DIVE - THE TWO REJECTS! | Dr Katie Haldane

How much are you loving the books of 1 & 2 Samuel? They really are incredible historical narratives of our faith! I mean, who doesn’t love prophets with miraculous births, God taking out the enemy by just the presence of the Ark, wars, good looking kings, jealousy, more wars, kings dancing in their underwear before God, adultery, murder–I mean, seriously, this book is like an episode that could be on Netflix!

DEEP DIVE - FROM JUDGE TO KING | Nathan Ross

The books of 1 and 2 Samuel mark a major transition in the history of Israel. Leading up to this point the people of Israel operated as a theocracy, that is God was their sole authority and in most recent history spoke through the judges (see the book of Judges).

Part Three

DIVE - TELEVISION HAS NOTHING ON 2 SAMUEL! | Dr Katie Haldane

How are you going reading 1 & 2 Samuel – how full on are they? I mean let’s be honest when we read the Bible we expect it to be a little conservative, loving, slightly challenging; this is a holy book, a holy text.

DEEP DIVE - DON'T LOSE HEART! | Dr Katie Haldane

The heart is talked about 29 times in the books of 1 & 2 Samuel.  The word for heart in Hebrew is leb meaning the inner man, indefinite, soul, comprehending mind, affections and will. In a time when God was establishing a human king and his kingdom in Jerusalem, the rise and fall of the kingdom would depend upon this one thing. Their heart, affections and will towards God.

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